Joins List of Accolades Received by Rathbone Wine Group’s Margaret River Property
Melbourne, Australia – (August 9, 2022) – Xanadu Wines Chief Winemaker, Glenn Goodall is the recipient of the 2023 Halliday Wine Companion Winemaker of the Year award. Announced on August 3, 2022, Glenn was awarded the highly anticipated accolade after two years of being shortlisted.
On accepting the award Goodall stated, “I’m excited and feel very honored to receive the Halliday Winemaker of the Year award. I’ve been fortunate enough to lead the Xanadu team for many years, and winemaking is definitely a team sport. This award acknowledges everyone, including our growers, who have been involved in the Xanadu journey over the years, and I feel really proud to represent this group.”
The Kiwi was visiting Australia in 1989, when he was just 19, when he fell into wine as a way to fund a surfing holiday. As such, his first job in the industry came with Cassegrain Wines. Nine years later, Glenn had completed vintages in Bordeaux, South Africa, New Zealand and California, all while finishing his Bachelor of Agricultural Science, Oenology at the University of Adelaide (Roseworthy). In 1999, Glenn joined the team at Xanadu in Margaret River, becoming Senior Winemaker in 2006.
Now in his 24th year at Xanadu, the winemaker and his team have tallied up an unbelievable 339 gold medals and 127 trophies across regional and national wine shows. This includes the 2019 Xanadu Reserve Cabernet taking the Best Cabernet Sauvignon Trophy at the National Wine Show of Australia for the 8th consecutive year in a row.
Glenn has always had an intuitive approach to winemaking alongside an unwavering belief that the vineyard is central to the steady success of Xanadu wines. “The variety and the vineyards should be the loudest voice in the glass, not the winemaker… Walking a lot of rows, in a lot of vineyards, is really important to identify the differences between, and often within, blocks. This unlocks good picking decisions and by keeping the winemaking pretty simple we can maintain the integrity of each different parcel of fruit, and that’s the key to retaining a nice spectrum of fruit profiles for when it comes to putting blends together.”
This attention to detail and regional focus results in excellence at every price point, which is why Xanadu was additionally nominated for the 2023 Halliday Best Value Winery of the year. “The wines are made to an exceptional standard at every price point, showcasing their deep understanding of both the art of winemaking and the terroir of the region,” says Erin Larkin – Halliday Wine Companion.
Meticulous attention to detail extends to sustainability, as well. Not only was Xanadu one of the first wineries established in Margaret River, the estate also helped define the standards for Sustainable Winegrowing Australia, and in 2012, became the first winery in Western Australia to achieve certified status. In these ways, Xanadu has long set the standard on top-quality wines with varietal and regional integrity. The Rathbone family purchased Xanadu in 2005, recognizing its rare combination of premiere viticulture, winemaking and hospitality in one of the country’s most important wine regions.
About Rathbone Wine Group
Established in 1996, the Rathbone Wine Group is a leading family-owned Australian fine wine group based in Melbourne. Its portfolio of premium brands includes three of Australia’s historic winery estates: Yering Station in the Yarra Valley of Victoria, Mount Langi Ghiran in Victoria’s Grampians region, and Xanadu in Margaret River, Western Australia. Rathbone Wine Group’s portfolio is focused on historic wine estates, with proven track records of quality, and locations in cool climate viticultural areas. With each brand, they strive to steward the land, honor its history, and keep a laser focus on quality first.
- Rathbone Wine Group: https://www.rathbonewinegroup.
com/ - Xanadu Wines: https://xanaduwines.com/
